2018 NBA Central Division Betting Odds

The odds for the 2018 Central Division winner have been updated and, honestly, the result is kind of shocking to me. The Cavs are still a huge favorite despite having one of the worst defenses in the NBA and being pretty close to falling apart. Considering Kevin Love is going to be out with an injury and the lack of options in trade, this team is very vulnerable right now. Yes, they have LeBron James, but this season that might not be enough.

The team I am looking at here is the Milwaukee Bucks. This team has changed it’s game since firing Jason Kidd and Giannis Antetokounmpo has been an MVP candidate. They are just about to get Jabari Parker back and Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe have been great for them this season. They have a nice trade chip in Malcolm Brogdon and it just feels like this team is going on a run. They are just 2.5 games back of the Cavs in the division right now.

The Pacers are just two games back and have been very consistent this season. They are 8th in the NBA in Net Rating and have been one of the true surprises of the season. Victor Oladipo has been playing great and Myles Turner is also developing nicely. This seems a bit unlikely, but the numbers don’t lie. This team is better than the Cavs right now.

As for Detroit? That seems a bridge too far.

The Cavs should probably still be favored here, but not by this much. They are vulnerable and these young teams are hungry.

2018 Central Division – Odds to Win

Cleveland Cavaliers -750

Detroit Pistons +1200

Milwaukee Bucks +1200

Indiana Pacers +1200

Updated: 2/1/2018

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As the season grows closer we’ll take a look at each division’s betting odds and try to build a better picture of the 2018 NBA season. We started with the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference which is one of the easier ones to project and now move on to an even easier one, the Central division.

The story of the Central division this season should be the same as it has been the past several seasons, LeBron James and the Cavaliers dominate.

While the loss of Kyrie Irving stings and there is questions about how healthy Isaiah Thomas is, this team should do well once again. The offense will probably need some tweaking, with the team hopefully unlocking Kevin Love more, but the fact of the matter is that this is the best team in the East and the most likely to make the Finals no matter what happens.

The rest of the roster is a who’s who of people you know. Dwayne Wade, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Derrick Rose, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson are all a big part of this team, but it might be Jae Crowder who makes the biggest difference of all this year. The rare younger player, he can cover multiple positions and nail a three when needed. While the acquisitions of Wade, Thomas and Rose got all the headlines, it might be Crowder who helps take them back to the promised land.

The only real challenge to them in the division this year could be the Milwaukee Bucks and that is almost entirely dependent on what happens with Giannis Antetokounmpo. There is a lot of MVP buzz around him and if he can make some sort of leap this year, the Bucks could be trouble for Cleveland. We know that Cleveland often coasts through the regular season and the Bucks are young and hungry so that won’t be an issue. They are a big underdog here, but there is a path that sees them moving up here.

Giannis will need help. A step forward from Thon Maker would really make this offense exciting, a quick recovery for Jabari Parker is necessary as well as Malcolm Brogdon continuing to advance. The defense led by Giannis and Khris Middleton should be solid with Greg Monroe and Matthew Dellavedova causing trouble as always. It’s hard not to get excited about the Bucks, but it doesn’t seem like they are there quite yet.

The Pistons are the only other potential playoff team here and that is a big question as well. Andre Drummond hasn’t made the type of progression that Stan Van Gundy expected when he took the job. The drama with Reggie Jackson last year is very real and still around. Hopefully Stanley Johnson is able to make a step forward and the addition of Avery Bradley could be huge for them. Still, this is a lower seed playoff team at best.